Graphical user interface and methods of use thereof in a multimedia player

ABSTRACT

In a portable multimedia device, a method, apparatus, and system for providing user supplied configuration data are described. In one embodiment, a hierarchically ordered graphical user interface are provided. A first order, or home, interface provides a highest order of user selectable items each of which, when selected, results in an automatic transition to a lower order user interface associated with the selected item. In one of the described embodiments, the lower order interface includes other user selectable items associated with the previously selected item from the higher order user interface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e).to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/399,806, entitledGRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF IN A MULTIMEDIAPLAYER, which was filed on Jul. 30, 2002, and is incorporated byreference in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to multimedia devices. Morespecifically, the invention describes a graphical user interface for usein a multimedia asset player suitable for providing any number and kindof user supplied inputs.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Recent developments in consumer electronics have included theintroduction of portable multimedia asset player devices such as MP3players, minidisk players, and the like. For example, in the case of anMP3 player, a number of digitized audio files in the form of MP3 filesare stored in a storage medium included in or coupled to the player in afashion deemed most suitable to that user. In the case of MP3 files, forexample, a user of the MP3 player must be able to peruse and select aparticular file, or files, based upon such characteristics as musicgenre, author, album, or whatever grouping of MP3 files is present inthe MP3 player.

[0006] What is required is a user interface that provides for a userfriendly and efficient retrieval of stored multimedia asset files in aportable multimedia asset player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention described herein pertains to a user interface thatprovides for a user friendly and efficient retrieval of storedmultimedia asset files. In one embodiment, a method of assisting userinteraction with a multimedia asset player by way of a hierarchicallyordered user interface is described. A first order user interface havinga first list of user selectable items is displayed and a user selectionof one of the user selectable items is received. Based upon the userselection, automatically transitioning to and displaying a second orderuser interface.

[0008] In a portable media asset player, a method of selecting andplaying a media asset from a group of media assets stored therein isdescribed. A first user interface is displayed on the portable mediaasset player having a first number of items each of which is associatedwith a particular grouping of the stored media assets. A selection ofone of the first number of items is received and based upon the selectedone of the first number of items, automatically transitioning to asecond user interface displayed on the portable media asset player thatincludes a second number of items each of which is associated with theselected item.

[0009] In a portable, pocket-sized multimedia asset player, a method ofselecting and playing a multimedia asset from a group of multimediaassets stored therein is described. At a home interface, displaying aplaylist list item which points to a number of playlists stored in themultimedia asset player, wherein each playlist is a user customizablegroup of multimedia asset files, an artists item corresponding to all ofa number of artists each of which is associated with at least one of thestored multimedia asset, and a songs list item associated with each ofthe stored multimedia assets. Highlighting a desired one of the playlistlist item, the artists item, or the songs list item, selecting thehighlighted item, and automatically transitioning to a second interfacebased upon the selected item.

[0010] In a portable, pocket-sized multimedia asset player, ahierarchically ordered graphical user interface accessible to a usersuitable for receiving user supplied inputs that facilitate selecting amultimedia asset stored therein. A first order interface having a firstnumber of user selectable items, a user activated first selection toolsuitable for selecting at least one of the first number of userselectable items, a second order interface having a second number ofuser selectable items based upon the selected at least one of the firstnumber of user selectable items, and a user activated second selectiontool suitable for selecting at least one of the second number of userselectable items, wherein when the first selection tool selects the atleast one of the first number of user selectable items, the first orderinterface automatically transitions to the second order interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The invention will be better understood by reference to thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

[0012]FIG. 1 shows an exemplary portable multimedia device 100 inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0013]FIG. 2 illustrates a hierarchically ordered menu corresponding tostored media assets in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0014]FIG. 3 shows a flowchart illustrating a particular process forselecting a particular one of a group of stored media assets inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0015]FIG. 4 shows a state diagram of a user interface suitable forproviding user provided input for an exemplary MP3 player (along thelines of the player 100) in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

[0016] FIGS. 5A-5F illustrate various exemplary user interfacesconsistent with selection and play of a media asset in accordance withan embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment ofthe invention. An example of the preferred embodiment is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described inconjunction with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that itis not intended to limit the invention to one preferred embodiment. Tothe contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, andequivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

[0018] With the rapid advancement in the ability to store data,multimedia asset players, such as MP3 players, can accommodate hundredsor even thousands of such assets, such as MP3 files, making the task ofselecting, grouping, or retrieving a particular file, or files, adaunting task indeed. Therefore the invention described herein is wellsuited for providing a user friendly and efficient user interface forretrieving media assets for use in a portable multimedia asset player.In the described embodiment, the multimedia asset player takes the formof a pocket sized, portable MP3 player. Accordingly, a method andapparatus for providing user supplied inputs to the MP3 player aredescribed. Such user supplied inputs can include user supplied commandsdirected at retrieving specific files, such as digitized audio files inthe form of, for example, MP3 files.

[0019] In one embodiment, a hierarchically ordered graphical userinterface are provided that facilitates a user file selection procedure.In this particular embodiment, a first order (sometimes referred to as ahome interface) provides a highest order of user selectable items eachof which, when selected, results in an automatic transition to a lowerorder user interface associated with the selected item. In one of thedescribed embodiments, the lower order interface includes other userselectable items associated with the previously selected item from thehigher order user interface. In this way, a user can automaticallytransition from a higher order interface to a lower order interface (andvice versa) by, in some cases, a direct transition. In other cases, theuser can transition from the higher order user interface to the lowerorder user interface (and vice versa) in a step wise fashion wherebyeach intervening interface is displayed having any number of userselectable input items each directly associated with the previouslyselected input item.

[0020] In a particular embodiment, the portable multimedia device is apocket sized, multimedia device (personal digital assistants, personalMP3 player/recorders, and the like) having a display screen arranged todisplay the various user interfaces and a corresponding user inputdevice. The user input device is typically a manually operated switch,button, wheels, or other such contrivances. Accordingly, the inventionwill now be described in terms a portable multimedia asset playercapable of storing a number of multimedia assets. For example, in thecase of the multimedia asset player being an MP3 player (such as theIPOD™ player manufactured by the Apple Computer Inc. of Cupertino,Calif.), the multimedia assets can include MP3 files as well as anyother appropriately formatted data files.

[0021] Accordingly, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary portable multimediadevice, or media player, 100 in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. The media player 100 includes a processor 102 that pertainsto a microprocessor or controller for controlling the overall operationof the media player 100. The media player 100 stores media datapertaining to media assets in a file system 104 and a cache 106. Thefile system 104 is, typically, a storage disk or a plurality of disks.The file system 104 typically provides high capacity storage capabilityfor the media player 100. However, since the access time to the filesystem 104 is relatively slow, the media player 100 can also include acache 106. The cache 106 is, for example, Random-Access Memory (RAM)provided by semiconductor memory. The relative access time to the cache106 is substantially shorter than for the file system 104. However, thecache 106 does not have the large storage capacity of the file system104. Further, the file system 104, when active, consumes more power thandoes the cache 106. The power consumption is particularly important whenthe media player 100 is a portable media player that is powered by abattery (not shown). The media player 100 also includes a RAM 120 and aRead-Only Memory (ROM) 122. The ROM 122 can store programs, utilities orprocesses to be executed in a non-volatile manner. The RAM 120 providesvolatile data storage, such as for the cache 106.

[0022] The media player 100 also includes a user input device 108 thatallows a user of the media player 100 to interact with the media player100. For example, the user input device 108 can take a variety of forms,such as a button, keypad, dial, etc. Still further, the media player 100includes a display 110 (screen display) that can be controlled by theprocessor 102 to display information to the user. A data bus 311 canfacilitate data transfer between at least the file system 104, the cache106, the processor 102, and the CODEC 110. The media player 100 alsoincludes a bus interface 116 that couples to a data link 118. The datalink 118 allows the media player 100 to couple to a host computer.

[0023] In one embodiment, the media player 100 serves to store aplurality of media assets (e.g., songs) in the file system 104. When auser desires to have the media player play a particular media item, alist of available media assets is displayed on the display 110. Then,using the user input device 108, a user can select one of the availablemedia assets. The processor 102, upon receiving a selection of aparticular media item, supplies the media data (e.g., audio file) forthe particular media item to a coder/decoder (CODEC) 110. The CODEC 110then produces analog output signals for a speaker 114. The speaker 114can be a speaker internal to the media player 100 or external to themedia player 100. For example, headphones or earphones that connect tothe media player 100 would be considered an external speaker.

[0024] For example, in a particular embodiment, the available mediaassets are arranged in a hierarchical manner based upon a selectednumber and type of groupings appropriate to the available media assets.For example, in the case where the media player 100 is an MP3 type mediaplayer, the available media assets take the form of MP3 files (each ofwhich corresponds to a digitally encoded song or other audio rendition)stored at least in part in the file system 104. The available mediaassets (or in this case, songs) can be grouped in any manner deemedappropriate. In one arrangement, the songs can be arrangedhierarchically as a list of music genres at a first level, a list ofartists associated with each genre at a second level, a list of albumsfor each artist listed in the second level at a third level, while at afourth level a list of songs for each album listed in the third level,and so on.

[0025] Accordingly, FIG. 2 illustrates an hierarchically ordered menu200 used to navigate through those stored media assets of interest to auser in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. It should benoted that in the described embodiment, the menu 200 is navigated by theuser scrolling vertically within a particular level in order to peruseand eventually select a particular item located within that level. Onceselected, the menu 200 is automatically transitioned in a horizontalmanner to a lower order interface associated with the selected item. Forexample, at a first level, a list of music genres 202 (ROCK, JAZZ, HIPHOP) corresponding to the available MP3 files is displayed. In order toselect a particular music genre, a user scrolls “vertically down” thelist 202 (usually accompanied by a pointer such as an arrow or byhighlighting the adjacent item) until a desired input item is reached.Upon selecting a particular music genre (ROCK, for example), anautomatic horizontal traversal 203 to a lower order interface 204 thatincludes a display of a list of ROCK artists 204 a corresponding to theselected ROCK genre. Again after scrolling in a vertical direction inthe ROCK artists list 204 a, a user selects a particular one of thelisted ROCK artists included in the list 204 a resulting in anotherautomatic horizontal traversal 205 to a lower order interface 206denoting an album 206 a (from a list of albums 206, if appropriate)associated with the selected artist. This procedure is continued until aparticular song 208 a from a list of songs 208 (included in the selectedalbum) is selected. Once selected, the song 208 a is then ready for playas described at a play song interface 210 that can in some cases includeinformation related to the selected song 208 a.

[0026]FIG. 3 shows a flowchart 300 illustrating a particular process 300for selecting a particular one of a group of stored media assets inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. Accordingly, at 302, afirst order user interface is displayed having a list of first orderuser selectable items. In the example of FIG. 2, the first order userinterface is the list of genres 202 whereas the first order userselectable items correspond to the various genres listed. Next, at 304,at least one of the user selectable items are selected and subsequently,at 306, an automatic transition to and substantially simultaneousdisplay of a lower order user interface corresponding to the selecteditem. At 308, a determination is made whether or not there areadditional order user interfaces based upon the latest selected item.For example, from FIG. 2 above, selection of the Rock genre from thelist 202 initiates the automatic transition to the lower order userinterface and substantially simultaneous display of the list of ROCKartists 204 a. This process continues until a lowest order interface(i.e., the Play Song display 210) is reached at which point theselection process ends and the selected multimedia asset is played.

[0027]FIG. 4 shows a state diagram 400 of a user interface suitable forproviding user provided input for an exemplary MP3 player (along thelines of the player 100) in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. It should be noted that for sake of simplicity, only a singleselection path is shown corresponding to a single selection item (i.e.,Artists). Accordingly, a home interface 402 provides a list thatincludes a PLAYLIST item 404, an ARTISTS item 406, and a SONGS item 408each of which is selectable by a user. It should be noted that each itemis associated with a particular grouping of the multi-media assets(which in this example are MP3 files) stored at least in the file system104. For example, the PLAYLIST item 404 is associated with a number ofcustomizable playlists (i.e., a compendium of artists, songs, albums,etc. in any order and grouping as deemed appropriate) whereas theARTISTS item 406 is associated with particular artists whose songs arestored in the file system 104 and so on.

[0028] Therefore, once a user selects either the PLAYLIST item 404, theARTISTS item 406, or the SONGS item 408, an automatic transition to alower order user interface occurs corresponding to the selected item.For example, if the user selects the ARTISTS item 406, an automatictransition 410 to the ARTISTS user interface 412 occurs thatconcurrently displays an ALL item 414 (associated with all artists) anda list of specific artists 416. It should be noted that, although notshown, if the user had selected a particular song from the list of songsassociated with the SONGS item 408, then the display would automaticallytransition directly to a now playing interface (not shown) indicatingthat the selected song is playing (or is prepared to be played) alongwith any other data or information deemed appropriate.

[0029] Once in the ARTISTS user interface 412, the user has the optionof selecting a particular artist by selecting a desired artist from thelist of specific artists 416 or selecting all artists by invoking theALL item 414. For example, if the user selects all artists by invokingthe ALL item 414, an automatic transition to a lower order ALBUMSinterface 418 occurs that concurrently displays an ALL item 420corresponding to all songs of all artists and a list of specific albumsfor all artists 422. If, for example, the user selected a specific albumfrom the list of specific albums 422, then an automatic-transition to astill lower order interface ALL SONGS 424 occurs that displays a list ofall songs of the selected album 426. At this point, when the userselects a particular song, an automatic transition to a now playinginterface 428 occurs having a song information display 430 consistentwith the selected song.

[0030] If, on the other hand, had the user had invoked the ALL item 420in the ALBUMS interface 418, then songs interface 424 would display alist of all songs 432 of all the artists. At this point, the user couldselect a particular song from the list of all songs 432 resulting in anautomatic transition to the now playing interface 428 having a songinformation display 430 consistent with the selected song.

[0031] A similar procedure can be followed in the case where instead ofinvoking the ALL item 414, the user had selected a particular artistfrom the list of artists 416. In this case, the act of selecting aparticular artist initiates an automatic transition to a selected artistinterface 436 that includes an ALL item 438 that points to all songs ofthe selected artist stored in the MP3 player and a list of all albums ofthe selected artist 440 that are stored in the MP3 player. Selecting oneof the albums from the list of albums 440 results in an automatictransition to the songs interface 424 that includes a list of all songsassociated with the selected album 442. On the other hand, invoking theALL item 438 results in an automatic transition to the songs interface424 having a list of all songs of the selected artist 444. Once in thesongs interface 424, the user is free to select any song listed for playat the now playing interface 428. For example, selecting one of thesongs listed in list of all songs of selected artist 444 or from thelist of all songs of selected album 442 results in an automatictransition to the now playing interface 428 simultaneously with thedisplay of song information displays 446 and 448, respectively.

[0032] It should be noted that the procedure described above is pathwisebi-directional in that the user can go in either direction along aselected path. It should be further noted, that in some embodiments, itis desirable to directly transition from the now playing interface 428to the home interface 402 (and vice-versa) without displaying any of theintervening interfaces.

[0033] FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate various exemplary user interfacesconsistent with selection and play of a media asset in accordance withan embodiment of the invention. One should note that the various userinterfaces illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5F correspond to particularembodiments of the HOME interface 402, the ARTISTS interface 412, theALBUMS interface 418, the SONGS interface 424, and the NOW PLAYINGinterface 428 described above. Accordingly, it should be further notedthat each of the interfaces described are incorporated into arepresentative media player 500 having a display 502 and a user inputdevice 504 that includes a central button 506, a selector wheel 508, andselectors 510-516. It is well to note that in this particularembodiment, the selectors 510-516 are a back up one level 510, a rewind512, a play/pause 514, and a fast forward 516. Accordingly, FIG. 5Ashows a particular implementation of the HOME interface 402 displayed onthe display 502. In order to select the ARTISTS item 406, the userrotates selector wheel 508 in either a clockwise or counterclockwisedirection (or any appropriate combination thereof) until the ARTISTSitem 406 is rendered selectable (as noted by a semi-transparenthighlight bar 518). Once the desired item is highlighted, the userselects the highlighted item by invoking a selection protocol by, forexample, pressing the central button 506. Once selected, the HOMEinterface 402 immediately transitions to the ARTISTS interface 412 asshown in FIG. 5B. As with the selection in the HOME interface 402 of theARTISTS item 406, a particular artist (or all artists) is selected bymanipulating any of the user input devices 504 (such as the selectorwheel 508) in combination with an appropriate selection event which caninclude pressing the central button 506. In this way, the user isprovided the capability of navigating the user input menu in any mannerthat the user deems to be most convenient and efficient. It should benoted that a stack indicator bar 520 indicates the relative position ofthe selected item in relation to the stack of items associated with theparticular selected group. For example, if the. Accordingly, FIGS. 5C-5Eshow various exemplary user interfaces consistent with the describedembodiment of the invention.

[0034] While this invention has been described in terms of a preferredembodiment, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents thatfall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted thatthere are many alternative ways of implementing both the process andapparatus of the present invention. It is therefore intended that theinvention be interpreted as including all such alterations,permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scopeof the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of assisting user interaction with amultimedia asset player by way of a hierarchically ordered userinterface, comprising: displaying a first order user interface having afirst list of user selectable items; receiving a user selection of oneof the user selectable items; and automatically transitioning to anddisplaying a second order user interface based upon the user selection.2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second order userinterface includes a second list of user selectable items associatedwith the selected item.
 3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein thesecond order user interface is a proper subset of the first order userinterface.
 4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first list ofuser selectable items includes at least a playlists item, an artistsitem, and a songs item.
 5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein whenthe selected item is the playlists item, then the second list of userselectable items includes a list of configurable playlists.
 6. A methodas recited in claim 4, wherein when the selected item is the artistsitem, then the second list of user selectable items includes a list ofall artists and a list of particular artists.
 7. A method as recited inclaim 4, wherein when the selected item is the songs item, then thesecond list includes a list of all songs.
 8. A method as recited inclaim 1, wherein the transitioning is pathwise bidirectional.
 9. In aportable media asset player, a method of selecting and playing a mediaasset from a group of media assets stored therein, comprising:displaying at a first user interface displayed on the portable mediaasset player a first number of items each of which is associated with aparticular grouping of the stored media assets; receiving a selection ofone of the first number of items; automatically transitioning to asecond user interface displayed on the portable media asset player basedupon the selected one of the first number of items wherein the seconduser interface includes a second number of items each of which isassociated with the selected item.
 10. A method as recited in claim 9,further comprising: selecting one of the second number of items;automatically transitioning to a third user interface displayed on theportable media asset player based upon the selected one of the secondnumber of items wherein the third user interface includes a third numberof items each of which is associated with the selected one of the secondnumber of items.
 11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein when eachof the second number of items corresponds to a particular media asset,then the second interface includes selected media asset information. 12.A method as recited in claim 9, wherein when the selected media asset isan MP3 file, then the selected media asset information includes a songtitle, a song artist, a song album, a song length, and a stack positionindicator indicative of the relative position of the selected MP3 filewith regards to other stored MP3 files in the media asset player.
 13. Ina portable, pocket-sized multimedia asset player, a method of selectingand playing an multi media asset from a group of multimedia assetsstored therein, comprising: displaying at a home interface, a playlistlist item corresponding to a number of playlists stored in themultimedia asset player, wherein each playlist is a user customizablegroup of multimedia assets, an artists item corresponding to all of anumber of artists each of which is associated with at least one of thestored multimedia assets, and a songs list item associated with each ofthe stored multimedia assets; highlighting a desired one of the playlistlist item, the artists item, or the songs list item; receiving aselection of the highlighted item; and automatically transitioning to asecond interface based upon the selected item.
 14. A method as recitedin claim 13, wherein when the selected item is the playlist list item,then the second interface is a playlist interface that includes at leastone selectable playlist item associated with at least one playlist,wherein the playlist points to a group of songs or a group of artists ora group of albums or any combination thereof.
 15. A method as recited inclaim 14, further comprising: receiving a selection of the playlistitem; automatically transitioning to a third interface that includes aselectable list of songs corresponding to the song playlist when theselected playlist item corresponds to a song playlist that points to thegroup of songs; automatically transitioning to a third interface thatincludes a selectable list of artists corresponding to the artistsplaylist when the selected playlist item corresponds to an artistsplaylist that points to the group of artists; and automaticallytransitioning to a third interface that includes a selectable list ofalbums corresponding to the selected playlist when the selected playlistitem corresponds to an albums playlist that points to the group ofalbums.
 16. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising: at thethird interface, when the songs playlist is displayed, selecting one ofthe songs from the songs playlist; and playing the selected song by themultimedia player.
 17. A method as recited in claim 15, furthercomprising: when the artists playlist is displayed, selecting one of theartists from the artists playlist; automatically transitioning to afourth interface that includes a list of artist songs; selecting one ofthe songs from the list of artist songs; and playing the selected songby the multimedia asset player.
 18. A method as recited in claim 17,further comprising: when the albums playlist is displayed, selecting oneof the albums from the albums playlist; automatically transitioning to afourth interface that includes a list of albums; selecting one of thealbums; automatically transitioning to a fourth interface that includesa list of album songs; selecting one song from the list of album songs;and playing the selected song by the multimedia asset player.
 19. Amethod as recited in claim 13, wherein when the selected item is theartists item, then the second interface is an artists interface thatincludes an all item corresponding to all songs stored in the multimediaasset player and a list of named artists each of which has at least oneassociated song stored in the multimedia asset player.
 20. A method asrecited in claim 19, further comprising: selecting the all item; andautomatically transitioning to an albums interface that includes the allitem and a list of albums associated with each of the named artists. 21.A method as recited in claim 20, further comprising: selecting the allitem; and automatically transitioning to an all songs interface thatincludes a list of all songs stored in the multimedia asset player. 22.A method as recited in claim 20, further comprising: selecting aparticular album from the list of albums; automatically transitioning toan all songs interface that includes a list of all songs of the selectedalbum.
 23. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising:selecting a particular artist from the list of artists; andautomatically transitioning to a third interface corresponding to theselected artist that includes a list of artist albums that are stored inthe multimedia player and an all item associated with all songs of theselected artist stored in the multimedia asset player.
 24. A method asrecited in claim 23, further comprising: selecting a particular albumfrom the list of artist albums; and automatically transitioning to afourth interface having a list of all songs of the selected artist. 25.A method as recited in claim 23, further comprising: selecting the allitem; and automatically transitioning to a fourth interface having alist of all songs of the selected artist.
 26. In a portable,pocket-sized multimedia asset player, a hierarchically ordered graphicaluser interface accessible to a user suitable for receiving user suppliedinputs that facilitate selecting a multimedia asset stored therein,comprising: a first order interface having a first number of userselectable items; a user activated first selection tool suitable forselecting at least one of the first number of user selectable items; asecond order interface having a second number of user selectable itemsbased upon the selected at least one of the first number of userselectable items; and a user activated second selection tool suitablefor selecting at least one of the second number of user selectableitems, wherein when the first selection tool selects the at least one ofthe first number of user selectable items, the first order interfaceautomatically transitions to the second order interface.
 27. Ahierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 26further comprising: a third order interface having a third number ofuser selectable items based upon the selected at least one of the secondnumber of user selectable items; and a user activated third selectiontool suitable for selecting at least one of the third number of userselectable items, wherein when the second selection tool selects the atleast one of the second number of user selectable items, the secondorder interface automatically transitions to the third order interface.28. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited inclaim 26 further comprising: a fourth order interface having a fourthnumber of user selectable items based upon the selected at least one ofthe third number of user selectable items; and a user activated fourthselection tool suitable for selecting at least one of the fourth numberof user selectable items, wherein when the third selection tool selectsthe at least one of the third number of user selectable items, the thirdorder interface automatically transitions to the fourth order interface.29. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited inclaim 26, wherein the first order interface includes at least, a userselectable playlist list item corresponding to a number of playlistsstored in the multimedia asset player, wherein each playlist is a usercustomizable group of multimedia assets; a user selectable artists listitem corresponding to a number of artists each of which is associatedwith at least one of the stored multimedia assets; and a user selectablesongs list item associated with at least some of the stored multimediaassets that are songs.
 30. A hierarchically ordered graphical userinterface as recited in claim 26, wherein the first, the second, thethird, and the fourth user activated selection tools are each formed byhighlighting portion of the display.
 31. A hierarchically orderedgraphical user interface as recited in claim 26, wherein when theselected item is the playlist list item, then the second interface is aplaylist interface that includes at least one selectable playlist itemassociated with at least one playlist.
 32. A hierarchically orderedgraphical user interface as recited in claim 31, wherein the playlist isassociated with a group of songs or a group of artists or a group ofalbums or any combination thereof.
 33. A hierarchically orderedgraphical user interface as recited in claim 26, wherein when theselected item is the artists list item, then the second interface is anartists interface that includes an all item corresponding to all songsstored in the multimedia asset player and a list of specific artistsitem each of which has at least one associated song stored in themultimedia asset player.
 34. A hierarchically ordered graphical userinterface as recited in claim 33, wherein when the selected item is theall item, then the third interface is an albums interface that includesan all songs item corresponding to all songs stored in the multimediaasset player and a list of albums for all artists each member beingselectable and associated with at least one album stored in themultimedia asset player.
 35. A hierarchically ordered graphical userinterface as recited in claim 34, wherein when the selected item is theall songs item, then the fourth interface is a songs interface thatincludes a list of all songs each member being selectable and associatedwith at least one song stored in the multimedia asset player.
 36. Ahierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 35,wherein when the selected item is at least one of the list of all songscorresponding to a selected song, further comprising: a fifth orderinterface having a song information list corresponding to the selectedsong that includes, a song title of the selected song, a song artist ofthe selected song, and a song album title corresponding to a song albumin which the selected song is included, if any.
 37. A hierarchicallyordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 36, wherein basedupon a received interface backward jump event, the fifth order interfaceautomatically transitions to the first order interface, and whereinbased upon a received forward jump event, the first order interfaceautomatically transitions to the fifth order interface.
 38. Ahierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 34,wherein when the selected item is one of the list of albums for allartists, then the fourth interface is a songs interface that includes alist of all songs of the selected album each member being selectable andassociated with at least one song included in the selected album.
 39. Ahierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 38,wherein when the selected item is at least one of the list of all songsof the selected album corresponding to a selected song, furthercomprising: a fifth order interface having a song information listcorresponding to the selected song that includes, a song title of theselected song, a song artist of the selected song, and a song albumtitle corresponding to the selected album.
 40. A hierarchically orderedgraphical user interface as recited in claim 33, wherein when theselected item is one of the list of specific artists, then the thirdinterface is a selected artist interface that includes an all songs itemcorresponding to all songs stored in the multimedia asset playerassociated with the selected artist and a list of albums for theselected artist each member being selectable and associated with atleast one album stored in the multimedia asset player.
 41. Ahierarchically ordered graphical user interface as recited in claim 40,wherein when the selected item is the all songs item, then the fourthinterface is a songs interface that includes a list of all songs of theselected artist each member being selectable and associated with atleast one song stored in the multimedia asset player associated with theselected artist.
 42. A hierarchically ordered graphical user interfaceas recited in claim 41, wherein when the selected item is at least oneof the list of all songs of the selected artist corresponding to aselected song, further comprising: a fifth order interface having a songinformation list corresponding to the selected song that includes, asong title of the selected song, a song artist label of the selectedsong, and a song album title corresponding to a song album in which theselected song is included, if any.
 43. A hierarchically orderedgraphical user interface as recited in claim 40, wherein when theselected item is one of the list of albums of the selected artist, thenthe fourth interface is an all songs interface that includes a list ofall songs of the selected album each member being selectable andassociated with at least one song stored in the multimedia asset playerassociated with the selected album.
 44. A hierarchically orderedgraphical user interface as recited in claim 42, wherein when theselected item is at least one of the list of all songs of the selectedalbum corresponding to a selected song, further comprising: a fifthorder interface having a song information list corresponding to theselected song that includes, a song title of the selected song, a songartist label of the selected song, and a song album title correspondingto the selected album.
 45. A hierarchically ordered graphical userinterface as recited in claim 26, wherein the multimedia asset is a MP3type multimedia asset.